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Sunday 9 August 2009

Who's 'She?' ...The Cat's Mother?!

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I have to admit to saying this, to my son often in the past... He's always thought I was bonkers anyway... And I've long known that I'm outdated... Thanks!

Idiom

Who's 'she', the cat's mother?

  1. (idiomatic, somewhat dated, British) A rebuke especially directed towards children for having referred to their mother, or any other woman in the third person, instead of using a properly respectful title or their name when appropriate.
    - Where is your mother?
    - She's making tea in the kitchen.
    - Who's 'she', the cat's mother?
    - Mother is making tea in the kitchen.
Do you know? Sometimes, I drive even myself to drink...

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12 comments:

Alan Burnett said...

My father used to often repeat the "cat's mother" phrase to me. He would also tell of a chap who used to stand outside Bradford Market selling pictures of the King and Queen (this must have been back in the 1920s) who would start the day shouting "Pictures of His and Her Majesty six pence each" but by the end of the day was reduced to "Him and Her A Tanner"

Anonymous said...

Oft used in my household with the kids, and by my mother to me.

Also 'A cat can look at a Queen'
and 'Cat got your tongue?'
and 'He/she's the Cat's whiskers'

Clippy Mat said...

my mother used to say that a lot when we were kids and we never understood her.
;-)

Unknown said...

Outdated, Fhina? Surely not! I'm sure there's still a requirement for this phrase.

Jinksy said...

Wonder how Pussy Galore would fit in this scenario?

shabby girl said...

I admit I didn't get it at first until I read the example! Ha! That's really funny.

Spellbound said...

DIvided by a common language again i hear. My mother's most frequent comment to me is ine you will puzzle over for weeks. "It will never be noticed on a galloping horse.{" See what i mean? What she was saying was that something in my appearance that did not suit me was of no consequence, Of course she never said that about my outfit of choice that did not meet with her approval.

LadyFi said...

My mother used that - who's she phrase.. and I have too... I also like this one, even though it is .. shh! American!!

When someone is ignoring you, you say:

What am I? Chopped liver?!

ArtistUnplugged said...

Hey...not really familiar with this phrase...but I can say I think you are the 'cat's meow!' Sorry I've been away so much lately......can you believe that my family has been taking up my time lately??????? Hope you are well Fhina dear.

Gigi said...

How funny! My husband's mom used to say that to her kids (here in USA) and now I find myself saying it to my son = because it sooooo fits!!!

Thanks for coming by! It's great to "meet" you!

A Woman Of No Importance said...

Alan Burnett: Alan, thank you for stopping by, Sir, with that fabulous anecdote! To treasure!

Moannie: The Cat's whiskers is so much nicer than the more modern version of the dog's b*s, Moannie! I like the bee's knees too! x

Clipstress: I think it's generally the lot of mothers not to be understood, n'est-ce pas?! x

Derrick: Thank you, oh wise and wonderful Derrick! ;)

Jinksy: :) You tinker, Jinksy you! x

Shabstress: I'm glad you liked it, treasure! x

Spellbound: My mum said that too - She would say, "A man on a galloping horse will never notice!" I said it to a colleague once and she was amazed as she'd never heard of it before! I'm glad you have too! It was used to mean something like, don't worry or obsess about the detail of things, no-one really notices that much... x

LadyFi: I like it, I've got a suspicion that might have started as a Jewish statement, which slipped into American - Great stuff, LadyFi, merci mille! x

Artist Unplugged: Glad you've picked up something new here, AU! And it's lovely that you've been spending time with that beautiful family of yours - I'm about to go on holiday and shall be doing plenty of that! xxx

Gigi: Thank you for dropping in, Gig! I'm glad you use this! Nice to meet you too! x

clerk said...

I think I will start using that phrase!

(and I hope that cat's mother has the blender unplugged.)

Something I wrote earlier...

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